My job has a lot of standard operating procedures and while there's definitely cause for problem solving and creative solutions I've been in need of an actual creative outlet. So I turned to my camera.
Although I've been using a camera on and off for 10+ years, I've never thought of myself as creative or artistic. I rarely share my photos, or even bother to print them. Hell I put off learning Lightroom until recently because it seemed so daunting. For the most part I just upload pictures to my computer and the only time I see them is when they come up on my screensaver.
The outdoors have always inspired me. The way all of the elements and textures of plants, water, and earth all come together to form a scene just amazes me. So I've been reading countless articles and watching hours of YouTube tutorials to develop my skills. I started carrying my camera everywhere with me and slowing down on hikes, keeping my eyes open for compositions. I created a new instagram account focused solely on my photography and started participating in forums.
I'm not hoping to become a professional photographer. I just want a space where I can share my work, document my progress, and talk about how I see the world around me.